Clinical study shows therapeutic sleep training for older adults can prevent depression

A new clinical study revealed that therapeutic sleep training can ease symptoms of depression in older adults. 

The form of cognitive behavioral sleep training, tabbed CBT-I, helps teach adults how to break bad habits to prep their mind and body for a good night's sleep.

The peer-reviewed study, published last week in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, showed that adults who have insomnia can are less likely to develop depression. The study's findings are among the first to show evidence of treating insomnia through a behavior strategy and not medication. 

According to research outlined in the study, 30% to 50% of older adults experience insomnia, which has become a major risk factor for depression and, in turn, suicide rates.

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"That's why this study is so important," study author Dr. Michael Irwin, a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at UCLA, told CNN. "We have shown that we can actually target insomnia with cognitive behavior therapy and prevent depression from occurring."

The study consisted of 291 adults over 60 without depression who were split into two groups. Every week for two months, a control group received eight weeks of basic sleep education – teaching sleep hygiene, characteristics of healthy sleep, sleep biology, and how stress can affect sleep. The other group was treated with the behavioral sleep training (CBT-1), administered in person in a group setting by trained therapists for eight weeks.

The study found that adults in the randomized clinical trial who received CBT-1 for their insomnia were two times less likely to develop depression. If remission from insomnia was sustained for three years, there was an 83% reduction of depression development. 

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CBT-I consists of five training components: stimulus control, sleep restriction, sleep hygiene, relaxation and cognitive behavioral therapy. 

A key finding of the study was the benefit of individual therapy and therapy in a group setting because the treatments can work against negative and distorted thought patterns such as "I can never sleep" or "I might die if I don't sleep tonight."

Cognitive behavioral therapy "targets dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs about sleep," Irwin said. "I really think a group setting is also really important because hearing other people's difficulties and how they are solving them can often help inform you about something that you may be dealing with."